During the procedure, eggs retrieved from the prospective mother are kept in a lab environment for some time. During this process, the eggs are stripped of their shells, and only those that are mature are selected, as only mature eggs are suitable for ICSI.

Sperm obtained from the male are prepared through special processes. During the preparation, the sperm are washed with special solutions to separate the motile and healthy ones.

Then, using a special tool called a micromanipulator, a single sperm is injected into each mature egg. The purpose of this step is to artificially achieve fertilisation in cases where natural fertilisation is not possible.

After this step, the injected eggs are stored in a controlled environment in special fluids, waiting for fertilisation to occur. If fertilisation is successful, the developing embryo or embryos are transferred to the prospective mother’s uterus.

The ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) technique involves directly injecting sperm into an egg. This method is particularly suitable for men with low sperm count or quality. It is also used in cases of azoospermia, where sperm cells obtained from testicular tissue are used.

Embryo Transfer: Within 2-5 days following fertilisation, embryos are transferred to the mother’s uterus. The transfer process is simple and painless. After the transfer, a specific number of embryos are transferred instead of transferring all embryos. Remaining embryos can be frozen and stored.

A pregnancy test performed 9-11 days after embryo transfer can definitively determine whether the treatment has been successful. Urine tests are not highly valued as they do not provide definitive results from a medical standpoint. In certain cases, a repeat pregnancy test may be requested. If the test result is positive and increasing values are observed, medication use during the first three months must strictly adhere to the directives of the IVF treating physician. This is because the continuation of the pregnancy in the first 8-10 weeks depends on the presence of sufficient amounts of the progesterone hormone in the woman’s body, and miscarriage can occur if medications containing progesterone are discontinued prematurely. Approximately two weeks after a positive test result, it is possible to see the gestational sac with vaginal ultrasonography.

The success of ICSI depends on several factors: The general health of the couple, sperm characteristics, laboratory conditions, and, of course, an experienced medical team. While this method was initially preferred only in cases of male infertility, it is now commonly used as a routine procedure.